Survey: Pandemic Affecting Americans' Financial Behaviors

The COVID-19 pandemic has made Americans more cautious about taking financial risks, according to a new survey. 

The website FinanceBuzz surveyed 1,000 adults, including half of whom had either tested positive for the virus or had a family member who tested positive, to determine how financial behaviors were affected.

According to the survey:

• 48% of respondents said the COVID-19 pandemic has made them less likely to take financial risks.
• 1 in 5 said they are more likely to take financial risks.
• 48% said visiting a grocery store without wearing a mask is "extremely risky," but 24% saw investing in Bitcoin as being risky. 
• 60% said it's "extremely risky" to drive without car insurance; 48% said the same of not having health insurance, and 34% considered flying during the pandemic to be extremely risky. 
• Just 1 in 5 said they increased their life insurance coverage, but with people testing positive for COVID-19 or having a close acquaintance test positive, the number was similar, with 28% buying more coverage. 
• 43% said they do not have a will or directives for end-of-lfe coverage but 33% said they have both. 
• 15% have used a check cashing service since the pandemic started; 13% took a paycheck advance, 12% borrowed money through a payday loan, and 14% sold items at a pawn shop.

However, the survey found that just one in 10 respondents were pessimistic about what their financial outlook will be in 2021, even with the challenges posed by the pandemic. 

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